With the massive selection of vitamins, herbs, and other supplements on the market, it can be overwhelming for a woman to figure out what she needs and doesn’t need to stay healthy. Sometimes, you just want a straight answer about the basic supplements that every woman should be using.

We’ll make it easy for you—the essential basics every women should consider taking are a multivitamin, probiotics, omega-3s, and curcumin. Here’s why each of this is so important.

Multivitamins: A Good Foundation

Even though we all know that we should be getting the majority of our nutrients from organic, nutrient-dense, whole foods, most Americans don’t eat perfect diets.

Even those who do eat pretty well simply can’t obtain the level of nutrients they need from food alone. Modern agriculture has left soil depleted of nutrients, so food is less nutritious today than it was 50+ years ago. This, in turn, can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Some of the most common nutrient deficiencies in women include vitamin D, iron, calcium, magnesium, iodine, and vitamin B12.

This is why supplementation with a high-quality multivitamin is so important. Multivitamins are the foundation of every supplement regimen. They fill nutritional voids so that you can live your best, healthiest life.

Furthermore, women have special needs due to life events like pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause. These all create unique requirements for various vitamins and minerals. Special diets (vegetarian, vegan, etc.) can also cause certain deficiencies.

If you feel you have any deficiencies, discuss your individual needs with your doctor. Generally speaking, though, all women, regardless of age or phase of life, can benefit from a multivitamin because all women need the same basic nutrients.

 

 

Probiotics: Gut Health & So Much More

The gut consists of tens of trillions of tiny microbes (bacteria) that play a part in almost every single area of your health. These beneficial bacteria— better known as probiotics—have a multitude of important roles:

• Prevention of gastrointestinal conditions
• Digestion of food 
• Alleviating allergies
• Management of weight 
• Reduction of LDL cholesterol
• Protection against autoimmune disorders and some cancers
• Prevention of inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema

Just as important, probiotics help keep harmful bacteria in check and prevent them from gaining a stronghold—which can lead to any number of illnesses and infections. In fact, up to 80% of your immune strength comes courtesy of the beneficial bacteria in your gut. So the fewer friendly bugs you have in your system, the more prone you are to getting sick.

For women in particular, though, probiotics are critical in supporting urinary and vaginal health. Women are more prone to urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and other conditions caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the reproductive/urinary tracts. Probiotics are clinically proven to prevent these issues.

The easiest and most reliable way to make sure you’re delivering live, health-promoting probiotics to the areas that need it most, is to supplement.

Look for a product that contains the Lactobacillus family of bacteria (which includes acidophilus, rhamnosus, casei, and many others). These microbes normally live in the digestive, urinary, and genital systems, helping to maintain healthy balance in those areas.

Anti-Inflammatories: Curcumin & Omega-3s

Chronic, low-grade inflammation is one of the biggest preventable health threats. It can cause a number of serious conditions, including cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s arthritis, and more.

This is where anti-inflammatory supplements really shine. Curcumin and omega-3 fatty acids are two powerhouse anti-inflammatories every woman should be taking.

Most people are familiar with turmeric, the yellow spice used to make curry in Indian cuisine. Curcumin is the active, medicinal ingredient in turmeric.

When it comes to reducing inflammation—the key contributing factor to so many terrible diseases—studies repeatedly show that curcumin’s anti-inflammatory abilities work as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Curcumin has been found to combat cancer stem cells and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in leukemia, melanoma, and cancers of the breast, lung, colon, kidney, ovary, and liver.

Curcumin also protects heart function, reduces triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, improves circulation, and reduces “stickiness” between your blood cells, reducing the risk of blood clots. In one that study focused on postmenopausal women, those two took curcumin showed improvement in endothelial function (the endothelium is the layer of cells that line your blood vessels and your heart). Not only that—curcumin was just as effective in doing this as exercise.

Other areas where curcumin has been found to be helpful include diabetes, arthritis, depression, dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, and gastrointestinal problems like irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.

Omega-3s are just as important as curcumin for lowering inflammation and preventing certain conditions.
Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) are important fats that cannot be manufactured in the body and must be obtained from food or supplements. The two most important EFAs are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

DHA and EPA have different roles in the body. DHA has strong ties to healthy brain, eye, and nervous system function. EPA’s claim to fame is its amazing ability to reduce inflammation. DHA and EPA work synergistically in the body, which is why most omega-3 supplements will contain both.

Research shows that omega-3s are especially impressive in these areas:

• Heart disease: EPA and DHA can help boost healthy HDL cholesterol while lowering triglycerides and blood pressure.
• Brain function and disorders: DHA can help slow the onset of cognitive decline, dementia, and even Alzheimer’s. In fact, Alzheimer’s patients tend to have lower-than-normal brain concentrations of DHA.
• Diabetes: Omega-3s can help decrease triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol in diabetics, who often have a hard time keeping their lipids under control.

While omega-3s are generally considered safe, if you’re on a blood thinner, talk to your doctor before supplementing. Omega-3s can further thin your blood.

Bundle and Save!

If you’re interested in buying all of these supplements, Newport Natural Health sells a Women’s Bundle that includes its popular, top-selling Lifemax multivitamin, Curcumin EX Plus, Omega D3, and Microencapsulated Probiotic.

Not only do all of these products meet stringent criteria for quality and efficacy, you can rest assured you’re providing your body with all the basic nutrients it needs to thrive.